WORLDWIDE MARITIME NEWS (XIV)

1.- EUROPEAN COMMISSION: EXTENTION OF BLOCK EXEMPTION REGULATION

The European Commission has just extended the effective period of the consortia block exemption regulation (BER) for an additional period of five years until April 2020. This exemption affecting the liner shipping industry -an industry that contributes with more than 65 billion USD yearly to the economy of the EU- provides legal certainty to carriers and transparency to the shipping sector.

 

 

 

 

2.- P3: CHINESE DEATH WARRANT

The death warrant of the P3, a shipping alliance formed by Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, has been signed by the Chinese Trade Ministry. This tripartite structure was to control 47% of the market share of exchanges between Asia and Europe, while the Chinese regulation sets limits to 30%. However she would have taken only 23% of the shares on the transpacific and transatlantic trade.

 

 

 

3.- CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING SUBSIDIARY: NEW PORT AT ASHDOD (ISRAEL)

 

Israel has just selected a subsidiary of China Harbour Engineering Company to build a USD 950 million port in southern Ashdod on Israel's Mediterranean coast. Under the terms of the tender, this subsidiary will build new docks, warehouses and jetties, extending deep-water berthing capacities at the site.

 

 

 

4.- FRENCH BILL AUTHORIZING ARMED PERSONNEL ABOARD

 

The French Parliament has just passed a bill authorizing the presence of private and armed security officers aboard in areas exposed to piracy. A contract will be entered between the company and the shipowner, while the French State will monitor compliance with the rules.

 

 

 

5.- PANAMA CANAL EXTENSION

 

The Panama Canal Expansion, after the arrival of the second set of rolling gates, keeps moving forward. The new lock complexes will feature three chambers, three water-saving basins per chamber, a lateral filling and emptying system and rolling gates. A total of 76,3% progress has already been achieved as of today.

 

 

 

6.- CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE MARITIME TREATY RATIFICATION

 

The Comité Maritime International (CMI) has joined forces with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) to assist those countries where there has been limited ratification of the major conventions. This campaign to promote treaty ratification puts special emphasis on the fact that it is crucial that the same regulations governing such matters as safety, environmental protection, liability and seafarers' working conditions apply to all ships in international trade.